Continental Tire the Americas makes two new appointments

Thomas L. Fanning, currently director of original equipment sales – Truck the Americas, has been namd as the division’s director of replacement sales – NAFTA.

Fanning assumes the role currently held by Shaun Uys, who is returning to his home country of South Africa to pursue other opportunities within Continental’s rubber group.

“Shaun has been an instrumental part of determining our new direction and approach and I cannot say enough positives about his role here to do him justice. We will miss his contribution,” said Paul Williams, executive vice president – Truck the Americas, in a prepared statement.

As director of replacement sales, Fanning will be responsible for strategic selling initiatives across dealer and fleet channels for the Continental, General, Ameri*Steel, Euzkadi and associated brands. Fanning will report directly to Williams.

Fanning had served as director of the original equipment unit since 2007. In prior roles at CTA, Fanning was a regional manager of replacement commercial vehicle sales. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Fanning holds a bachelor of science in business management and entrepreneurship. He is also a veteran of the United States Army National Guard, having served in active duty during the Persian Gulf War.

Succeeding Fanning as director of original equipment sales is Wes Garber. In this role, Garber will have responsibilities for developing and executing business strategies for the Americas which include market shares, profitability and achieving standard original equipment positions with major truck and trailer manufacturers.

Garber will report to Peter Matzke, Continental’s global vice president of original equipment – truck tires, and indirectly to Williams. Garber also continues in his role as chairman of the board of directors of the joint venture which produces commercial vehicle tires as the GTY Tire Company in Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Garber most recently held the position of controller for the truck tire business unit of CTA.

Prior to joining CTA, Garber was the sales and marketing controller of BSN Medical, Inc. Garber is a certified public accountant in the state of North Carolina. He is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Pamplin College of Business, with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting. Garber will be replaced as controller by Kristian Klotz, who is relocating from Continental’s central controlling in Hannover, Germany.

“Building on Shaun’s leadership, and with the help of both Tom and Wes, you will continue to see Continental moving forward as the company of choice in the commercial vehicle tire marketplace,” Williams said.